Day 15 - Hard Work

Sometimes, I think it's funny.  We work hard, we try hard, and things don't work out.  I think we're taught our whole lives that hard work pays off.  Does that mean that if it doesn't, we've done something wrong?  Well, no, not really.  You can try hard, work hard and in the end still come up short.

Day 9 - Winter Wonderland

Since I grew up in Northern IL/Southern WI, I feel like I can make fun of the fact that this little bit of snow has shut down the town.  School for my kids started 2 hours late.  Really kind of silly, but gave me a couple of extra hours to snuggle with my youngest :).

'Night

Day 8 - Gosh we're busy

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday.  Soo much to do.  I don't really like working on Saturdays, but it was unavoidable yesterday.  Lots to do.  Of course, when I looked back on the week, I had lots to do all week.


It got me thinking about how busy people are these days.  I talked to my sister and she asked why it had been so long since I had called her.  I said, "Well, I've been busy."

Not very creative. . . Guess what . . . everyone's busy.  It's nothing special to be in the busy-club; membership is open and free.

So, I thought I'd give you some tips today on being less busy:

1)  Stop being so busy.  Do less!
2)  Only do things that you can get done in 5 minutes.  Leave everything else for someone else.  Or, if it doesn't get done, it probably didn't need to get done.
3)  Don't complain about being busy.  If you saved that time, you'd have more.

Have you ever noticed how even the busiest people have time to tell you how busy they are?  It's all in your head.

Day 7 - I've been Unfriended

I've been un-friended . . . seriously.  No, this isn't a trip back to Junior High School.

I have so upset someone that they have removed me from their life, well, Facebook life, anyway.  I guess I'll have to figure out some way to continue on.  It will be difficult, but I will manage.


If you have a problem with me, you won't resolve it by telling me what a ba**ard I am, yelling at me or writing scathing emails. . . and, no, removing me as your friend on Facebook won't help it either.  There are always 2 sides to a problem.  I doubt very much that either one is 100% correct, neither is one side 100% wrong either.

Day 5 - Honk if you Love Jesus!

This is going to be a short one.  I just want us to think about something . . . yes, all 7 of us.

I think the point is that it's dangerous to text and drive, but how sweet to meet Jesus . . . I've got mixed emotions.  Have a great night, all!

Day 4 - Parenting 101

I will probably write a lot about parenting over the next year.  After all, I know everything.  I mean, once you have raised one, the rest are all the same, right?  Wrong.

I love listening to people tell me how wonderful my children are . . . and then follow that right up with what I'm doing wrong.  If my kids are that wonderful, then, do you really need to comment?  Unfortunately, they don't, but they do.  I'm quite confident that my parents have forgotten how much you don't know and how much you do wrong as a parent.  Your job as a grandparent, aunt, godparent, friend, or whatever, is to remind children the good in their lives.  Dwelling on the negatives comes naturally, they don't need your help; in fact, most of the time they don't even believe half of the things they are complaining about until they tell a loved one and the loved one validates it.  Don't do it.  That's not your role.  Guidance is for the parents.  You don't even get a vote!

I'm not shooting for 100% right; just more right than wrong would be great (for those of you non-math people, that's 51%).  This means for 100 decisions as a parent that I make, 49 will be WRONG.  I'm a-ok with that.  Because what works for one child, doesn't necessarily work for the next.  And what has worked for 4, might not work for the fifth.  Trial and error, sort of.  With some experience and time, I might get that down to 47 or 48 . . .

But, it's even more than that, because, did I mention that kids (and especially teenagers) are moody?  Heck, for that matter, 38 year olds are moody.  Women are moody, Men are moody.  All of these things are factors that weigh in for every child, and for every mood and for every decision and for every day.

Raising children is probably the single most important thing I will do in my lifetime.  I treat it as such. I'm proud of my children, and they know that when I  say that I am proud of them, it means something, because complements don't come easy from me.  Their mother, well, she's a lot easier.  That's just how it works.  Right, wrong, heck I don't know.  I'm not even going to worry about it.

Let me summarize.  If you are a parent, want to be a parent, were a parent, or don't ever want to be a parent and you are about to start a sentence to another parent with any of the following:

• I don't mean to interfere, but . . . 
• I'm concerned about . . . 
• Have you tried . . .
• I've read that . . . 
• I know that you are trying, but . . .

DON'T.  The only exception to this rule is if I specifically ask you for your advice on a specific issue, and then, DON'T (I don't really mean it; I'm just wanting someone to hear my complaint and then tell me how great my kids are anyway).

Parenting, though the most important job I'll ever have . . . it doesn't pay well.

In other words, the only thing a parent needs to hear from you about their parenting is how truly inspiring their work is.

The Smobometer

So, many of you know, for my birthday last year, I quit smoking.  A friend from FL put me on this website that keeps track of my quitting.  A "Smobometer"; seemed like an odd name, but I like checking it out once in a while.  I don't think I'm buying the "Life Saved", but I'm pretty sure the amount saved and the cigarettes not smoked is pretty accurate.  3 Months . . . really doesn't seem like it's been that long.  I haven't really missed it.

The truth is, it's late, and I didn't have time earlier to write anything.  I'm also not sure I want to reflect on yesterday just yet.

I didn't think anyone would have a problem with me cheating by bragging about my quitting smoking.

TT

Day 2 - I'm kind of a big deal!

After the sermon yesterday, my pastor chased me down to tell me he was excited for me to start a blog.  He looked forward to reading it every day.  Wow, talk about pressure.  For that matter, when I got home, I found out I’ve got 5 followers.  They’re going to be reading, too??

So I started wondering, do we act differently if people are watching?  Will it be good enough?  Will I write something different if I know someone is actually going to read?  The answer is “yes”.  I’m going to write, read, re-write, re-read . . . and, well, re-write; until it’s right, right? All because you're reading this; thanks, thanks a lot! 

I remember, a long time ago, going to Outback for the first time.  Man, do I like the Outback Special.  That had to be the best steak ever.  Then, I remember going to The Gun Club in Beloit, WI.  Now, the Outback Special was good, but holy cow the New York strip here; WOW!!!  Visiting New York City I found The Prime Rib at Tavern on the Green . . . where has this been all my life?  Next, The Bone-in, Kansas City New York Strip at Bob's . . . now, if you've never had this before . . . well, let me just stop and say; you really need to try this.   And, next . . . well, let's just say, I'm on the prowl for the next better and best steak.

I spend a lot of time driving in my car.  I never leave on time, and am always in a hurry to get where I'm going.  I’m not really willing to risk my own or even others’ lives to get a car ahead, yet I do. I do it because I’m an aggressive and competitive person who wants to be ahead of that car ahead, and then the next car ahead, and after that, the next car.

So, this started today with a photo of me; and, to be honest, I'm kind of a big deal!  But, I'm modest.  Despite what I might portray, I know I’m not :(.

The reality is, we're human, I am and you are; nothing will ever be just "right"; I'm not a Big Deal.  Go ahead and watch me . . . read my blog; I won’t be perfect, heck, it probably won’t even be average; but I’ll keep trying.  Just remember, there will always be a better blog, another car ahead . . . and, God willing, there will always be a better steak!

Day 1 - Out with the old

So, I noticed that a friend on Facebook has started a 2011 blog and titled it "365~A year in Review".  While I'm copying her idea, I didn't want to also copy her title . .  thus, "Keeping Track of 2011".  Today is actually January 2, 2011, so I guess I will just post a day behind and reflect on the previous day.

Two questions to answer:

1)  Why a 2011 blog?
       Because I have never done a blog before.  Don't expect much from me; I'll try and get better as the year goes on.

2)  Why a picture of an old couch?
     We bought this couch in 2000/1 (actually 2 of the same couch) to go in a house we had just built.  The house building went exceptionally well, we built the home of our dreams; hardwood floors, check; upgraded lighting, we'll take it; finish off the basement, got to have it; granite countertops, why not.  The house, was beautiful, and we loved it; however, it was well above our financial means.

  How did we get there?  Why did we get there?  Don't really know.  We just did.  We moved in in June, and out in July.  We had gotten everything we wanted, and enjoyed it.  But, we couldn't afford it.  We were lucky to find a buyer and escape with basically what we had in it.  Whew! All of the hard work and risk . . . unrewarded (in money anyway).

  So, back to the couch.  It reminds of times when I want, want, want.  Sometimes without really knowing what we are up to ourselves.  And, when we get what we want realize how empty it really is.  So, the couches are being given away . . . and with them, a little bit of materialism.

Also, I hope to send with them the need to give anything to get that which I want and risking everything I have to get it.  I hope to keep the fear of wanting something so badly that I am willing to give up everything important.

So, Tim . . . enjoy the couches

TT